WE WERE ROBBED-PHILLIMON BUGALO
GABORONE:What comes to your mind when you hear the ring announcer screaming results for Hagler vs Antuofermo 1980,Bradley vs Pacquiao June 2012,Oscar De la Hoya vs Felix Trinidad September 18 1999 and recently CaneloGGG 1?
Botswana Region 5 coach for Boxing Phillimon Bugalo confidently believes and authoritatively voiced out that his boxer in Raymond Madumetsa was looted and fleeced a bout he easily won in the 56kg against the ever confident South African Ishmael Kadri where he lost on judges split decision 4-1 at the ongoing region 5 games held in Gaborone , Botswana on December 13.
Raymond slided to the semi-finals of the 2018 edition of Region 5 games boxing tournament after effortlessly edging over Malawi’s Lyton Kabulika by unanimous decision in the the first round of the tourney.
Kadri on the other hand ran rampant and uncontrollably hotter for Pedro Tiago from Angola to make a ring dancing date with Raymond.
Round 1 of the bout was tactically approached by both corners.Raymond was no longer the boxer he was on the first bout,he was too cautious going forward.
Kadri was too a totally unique boxer he was,no speed,quick exotic combinations and full force offence mode.
In round 2 and 3 it was a different story as the South African kept Raymond on the ropes who relied on counter punching with soft shots though the SA man exposed himself for gluten to punishment.
In his post bout interview Kadri acknowledged that it was not his best performance and thanked almighty he won a close fight,he says he believes he is not fully recovered from the first bout.
“I knew it was a close fight to be honest with you I knew I just did enough to get the decision”voices Kadri.For Botswana camp,coach Bugalo whom totally was downcast says they won the bout easily throughout the rounds.
“first round was 50/50,second round it was our round we won that bout…we were robbed”.
Kadri won 4-1 on split decision.
One former Olympic boxer known to Sportsnation believes it was a 50/50 bout.He says the judges perhaps were not convinced with the work rate by Raymond.
Moreover Raymond according to the former Olympiad was only counter punching and limiting his counter punches to not more than 3 of which not all scored.
“it was more like he was equalizing like in a football game.He continued to point out that Kadri showed hunger by going forward non-stop throughout the bout.Another former commonwealth boxer from Botswana elaborated that boxing is commonly dirty.
He says the bout was clearly a win for Botswana.Furthermore the despaired source says its not surprising that the decision went to South Africa where the leadership is influential in the judges outlooks and career elevation in appointing them for highly rated tourneys in the world of sweetscience.
“this is boxing,welcome to boxing son”said the source.
In other exhilarating bouts,Botswana’s Festus Madiehe has challenged the aggressively hard punching Zambian Patrick Chinyemba after winning by unanimous decision to Namibia’s Johannes Trofinus.
The Zambian won by RSC against SA’s Sinovuyo Mthintelwa.Brian Galemongwe advanced to the finals after 5-0 win over Salvador Paulo of Angola.
Meanwhile,Thabang Mmusi in the 75 kg was completely outplayed by Zambia’s Mondwe Francis to register Botswana’s second loss of the day.Botswana has now a total of 6 boxers competing whom will box for,with guaranteed 3 bronze medals in the blue,black and white medal basket.
After 30 bouts of fun filled punch festival for the past 4 days today is the d-day scheduled for the finals at 2pm in Ditshupo Hall where 10 bouts are on the cards for different categories and divisions.
